Australien. Those on methadone don't deserve stigma
Australien. Those on methadone don't deserve stigma
Avoidable loss of life is always a tragedy. On December 26, Craig Whitall veered onto the wrong side of the Princes Highway when driving from Nowra to Ulladulla resulting in four deaths, including his own. The details of this tragedy have been reported widely not only because the crash involved an actress but because Whitall's trip was made in the context of his receiving methadone treatment.
There are a number of questions that need to be asked after this accident but the one that should not be posed is "should people on pharmacotherapy for opioid dependence be allowed to drive?".
In line with an accepted evidence base, the national guidelines relevant to methadone state that people who are in stable treatment for opioid dependence do not have a greater risk of a crash and, like all other motorists, should be subject to jurisdictional guidelines. (Sydney Morning Herald, 02.01.2018)
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/those-on-methadone-dont-deserve-stigma-20180101-h0c17q.html